I felt I was coming of age when I got into Paul Simon. He was as sophisticated as I was trying to be. I proudly walked the school corridors with this LP under my arm, hoping to be seen by teachers and friends alike.
It was his second solo LP, after his self titled (also brilliant) album, and it heralded such incredible backing musicians as the Dixie Hummingbirds on Tenderness. Simon was already showing signs of the musical adventure and imaginative collaborations that were to come later in his career.
The styles include dixieland on Take Me To The Mardi Gras and gospel on Loves Me Like A Rock. Kodachrome was banned on BBC radio due to its trademark name, and Kodak even insisted on a nod on the sleeve.
The beautiful American Tune (the opening track on Side Two) helped this record gain two Grammy nominations following its release in 1974
Paul Simon may well be better known for his work with Art Garfunkel, and later with his South African controversy, but I would urge anyone remotely interested in music to check out this masterpiece.
